Raines declined to name the two officers bitten in the recent incidents, but other police sources identified the city officer as Cory Hall. He was unavailable for comment Tuesday.

The first of the recent dog bites happened at 3 a.m. March 26, when Newport News Police were called to the city park campgrounds to assist a state trooper. The trooper, whose identity was not released by state or city police, had attempted to make a traffic stop when the driver got out of the vehicle and ran.

When Nero arrived, he bit the state trooper in the groin for an unknown reason, according to a report with the Virginia Department of Health. Virginia State Police confirmed the bite but would not identify the trooper or allow the officer to talk to a reporter.

Raines said injuries to the trooper were minor and he was treated and released from the hospital.

She, too, said she had no idea why Nero bit the trooper.

The second incident occurred at 9 p.m. April 21. Newport News Police were searching for a rape suspect in a wooded area off Richneck Road.

Nero bit an officer -- not the dog's handler -- and the man was taken to the hospital and received some stitches. Raines, saying it was a personnel matter, wouldn't comment on the number of stitches or where the officer was bitten.

Hospitals and other medical groups, as well as schools, are required to report dog bites to the state, according to a Health Department spokeswoman. But that doesn't mean they always will, she said. The spokeswoman said she had no record of the more serious incident, the one involving the city officer.

Raines said it is the hospital's responsibility to report such bites to the Health Department.

She wouldn't reveal which hospital or hospitals treated the officers.

The trooper is back on duty, but the city officer has not returned to work.

The city police department has six patrol dogs, like Nero, and three drug canines.

Raines declined to reveal additional information.

"Until the investigation is complete, I've given you all the information I can," she said.

Nero is off the job, but Raines said she isn't sure where the dog is staying.

The dog's handler, who according to other police sources is Stacy Kelly, was in training Tuesday and unavailable for comment. He requested, through Raines, that a reporter stop calling his house.

Both cases are being looked into, Raines said, to determine why the dog bit the officers.

Without blaming either officer, Raines said precautions must be taken with police dogs.

"There are certain things you do," she said, "and certain things you don't."

Holly Roberson can be reached at 247-4736 or by e-mail at hroberson@dailypress.com